Early Voting Provides a Necessary Alternative to Millions of Busy Voters

The Gilmer Mirror

Oct 22, 2012 | 809 views | 0 | 4 | |

Early Voting Provides a Necessary Alternative to Millions of Busy Voters

--Volunteers are helping early voters through the Election Protection 1-866-OUR VOTE hotline--

Early voting provides millions of voters, who may not be able to get to a polling location on November 6, with an alternate way to exercise their right to vote. In fact, for the 2008 presidential election, 30 percent of votes were cast early prior to Election Day. However, early voting availability and deadlines vary on a state by state basis, which can confuse voters and prevent them from casting their ballot and their voices from being heard.

In Texas, early voting begins on October 22 and runs through November 2. For additional questions about the early voting process, as well as other voting issues, the Election Protection hotline, 1-866-OUR-VOTE, is staffed live with trained volunteers who can help voters check their registration status, determine early voting hours and find polling locations between now and Election Day.

“Many people work on Election Day and are not able to get to the polls,” said Eric Marshall, manager of legal mobilization at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. “Early voting provides a great option – allowing millions to exercise their right to vote – and the 1-866-OUR-VOTE hotline is an excellent resource to guide them through the process”

Election Protection also tracks any last minute changes to voting rules and provides this information to any voters who call the hotline or visit the website.

Voting Reminders:

Verify your registration status to ensure that you can vote.

Confirm your polling location, even if it has been in the same place for years.